Magicians

Two Houdini

Houdini, a well known name among most laymen. The name of a famous magician. That name could be quite confusing because there were two Houdini. One was Robert Houdini and another was Henry Houdini. Both were very famous magicians from two different era. However, the Houdini that most people in our current generation have heard of is the latter, Harry Houdini – the great escape artist.

Robert Houdini (1805 – 1871)

Robert Houdini, a French magician, is honoured as the “Father of Modern Magic”. Many of today’s modern stage magic are influenced by Robert Houdini. I believe that everyone has seen on television magicians kept an unconscious woman suspended horizontally in mid-air. Robert Houdini originated this magic trick of suspending his son in mid-air in challenge of Indian conjurers “sitting on air”. As a former clock maker, Robert Houdini is well versed with constructing machines.

In modern terms, Robert Houdini constructed many magic props used in stage magic. Robert Houdini would pour from a bottle any drinks his audience requested. One of his amazing construction is an “Orange Tree” that bore oranges and two butterflies pulled a handkerchief from one of the oranges. This magic trick was re-enacted in the movie, “The Illusionist” released in the year 2006, with Edward Norton as the lead actor. Robert Houdini is also a fore-runner in performing mentalism where his blindfolded son was able to describe in detail, objects offered by various audience.

Dai Vernon (1894 – 1992)

Dai Vernon, a Canadian magician, was fondly known as the Professor among magicians. His original name is David Frederick Wingfield Verner. He is an expert sleight of hand artist in card magic as well as other types of magic, such as coin magic, cups and balls magic and 6-ring magic. Harry Houdini pride himself that he was able to reveal the secrets of any magic tricks. However, Dai Vernon was able to fool Harry Houdini with a card magic trick that Houdini was unable to figure the secret to the trick.

In doing so, Dai Vernon earned the title of “the man who fooled Houdini”. Dai Vernon first got interested in magic after watching a magic show at the age 7. He began studying the book, ““The Expert at the Card Table” by S. W. Erdnase. Dai Vernon has made a great contribution to the field of magic. Many sleight of hands in card magic were designed by Dai Vernon. Standard routines of cups and balls magic are also attributed to him.

Dai Vernon may not have written books of magic but many magic books written were attributed to his teachings by different magicians such as Lewis Ganson and Bruce Cervon.